Scaffolding is widely used during construction and maintenance activities. In its simplest form, a scaffold is any temporary elevated or suspended work surface used to support manpower, equipment and/or materials. The construction industry gives rise to very intensive use of scaffolds. 65% of the construction manpower are regularly involved in the use of scaffolds and other elevated work platforms. These scaffolds are moved and/or dismantled more frequently and are used under more adverse conditions. Therefore, scaffolds result in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries per year, which costs the construction industry worldwide around US$900 million dollars. The consequences of such accidents cost the international economy over US$15 billion dollars per year. Documented injury accidents are only a small portion of the total number of accidents and costs. The goal of the construction industry is to assist in preventing even a minor part of this injury, death, and property damage.
The course is designed to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the materials, methods, standards, safety regulations, planning, selection, installation, inspection and stability of Scaffolding and Aerial Work Platforms. It covers American and British Regulations & Industry Standards; Accidents & Fatality Statistics; Pre-planning (Selection & Use); Training Requirements; Materials & Methods; Fall Protection; Electrocution on Scaffolds; Emergency Response; Supported Scaffolds; Tubular Welded-Frame Scaffolds (Mason’s Frames); Tube & Coupler Scaffolding; Wood Pole Scaffolds; Pump Jack & Ladder Jack Scaffolds; Job-Manufactured Scaffolds; Form Scaffolds; Suspended Scaffolds; Single-Point & Two-Point Suspension Scaffolds; Multiple Point Suspension Scaffolds; Adjustable Multi-point Suspension Scaffolds (Stone Setters – Mason’s); Outrigger Types Scaffolding; manually Propelled Rolling Towers; Aerial Work Platforms; Inspection Procedures; Stairways; Ladders; and Safety Plans & Procedures.
The course will present the latest innovations and practices in the industry, including, not only scaffolds, but aerial lift devices, ladders, etc, as they increase in popularity. It is also intended to provide current information to the experienced and new user, erector, and designer of scaffold systems and aerial work platforms of the regulatory requirements, industry standards, and innovations in the industry, as well as to provide examples of the most common failures which result in injury and death to construction workers everyday.
The last day of the course will be a site visit to one of the scaffolding companies in UAE, where participants will practice setting-up a scaffolding yard and boom lift equipment as well as assembling small scaffolding structures.